Bonny Kate Elementary School was built in south
Knox County in or around the year 1930. The original building
consisted of five classrooms. In or about 1950 an addition was
constructed which consisted of two more classrooms, indoor restrooms,
and a gym/cafeteria room with a stage. The most recent addition
was completed in January of 1981 and included renovation of existing
rooms plus: fifteen classroom, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, and an
office complex. Since potential capacity increased to four hundred
fifty at that time, High Bluff School was closed, extending Bonny
Kate's attendance zone to Chapman Highway (East) and Blount County
line (South). Approximately four hundred thirty K-6 students attended
at that time. (Bonny Kate had housed K-8 students until Doyle
Middle School was built in approximately 1973.) Enrollment at
Bonny Kate grew rapidly until sixth grade students had to be sent
to Doyle Middle School for the 1984-1985 school year.
Bonny Kate gets its name from Catherine Sherrill Sevier, second wife of Governor John Sevier. Their historic home, Marble Springs, still stands approximately three miles east of the school. She was called "my Bonny Kate" by the governor for the spirited way she eluded attacking Indians and ran to the safety of the fort while he watched from within.
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